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The Woodstock Academy Centaurs boys’ basketball team had a chance to win its game against Ledyard Dec. 21 in regulation.
But a turnover resulted in four more minutes being placed on the clock and it was too much for the Centaurs who fell to the Colonels, 74-62, in overtime.
The loss dropped Woodstock Academy to 1-1 on the season.
The turnover came with about 20 seconds left in regulation and the score tied. The Centaurs had to stop the Colonels from scoring and were successful in doing so as Ledyard missed three shots.
But playing tenacious defense even for that short a period of time can wear on a team.
“We expended a lot of energy to get to overtime and it was on their court and they came out on fire in overtime, a really quick early run and we tried to extend the game by fouling,” said Centaurs coach Marty Hart.
Unfortunately for the Centaurs, the Colonels made 7-of-12 from the charity stripe in the extra period, outscored Woodstock Academy 18-4 in the four minutes, and posted the victory.
Senior Chase Anderson, for the second game in a row, had a big night.
He opened with a 33-point effort in a 70-62 win over Bacon Academy Dec. 18 and finished with 26 in the loss to the Colonels.
“He helps us out in a lot of different ways,” Hart said. “He’s taking his shot in rhythm instead of forcing it so it’s happening in the normal course of the offense. It’s fantastic. His scoring has been timely and even, but the bigger story is how much he is rebounding. It’s just amazing how many rebounds he is getting,” Hart said.
The senior had 16 boards in the win over the Bobcats and was in double digits again against Ledyard.
Part of the reason for that is that Hart is putting Anderson up front on defense in the three-spot for the most part although he has been put into the four and five spots this season.
The Centaurs needed Anderson more in the middle Dec. 21 as 6-foot-8 senior center Andrew Roy was not available for the game.
The game with the Colonels was close throughout.
Ledyard led, 12-10, after the first quarter and 23-21 at the half. It went into the final quarter with a six-point lead, 43-37, before the Centaurs tied it up.
Cole Hackett, who along with Luke Mathewson, added 10 points in the game, had six of those in the fourth quarter.
Woodstock Academy was helped by the return of Avery Beausoleil who was injured in a scrimmage and missed the opener.
“The reserves came in and did a nice job. We were able to press and mix up our defense and kind of use our depth, but they have some physicality which was difficult for us to overcome,” Hart said.
While their defense played well, the offense could have been better.
“We had a hard time shooting in Ledyard. From (beyond the 3-point arc), it seemed like we were two for a million, but it was well over 20. We didn’t shoot well, neither did Ledyard,” Hart said.
Hackett also added 10 in the win over Bacon Academy.
The victory was important for the Centaurs for a number of reasons including that it was the season opener, on the road and an Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II game.
The Centaurs were up-and-down against the Bobcats.
Woodstock Academy mustered only 13 points in the first quarter, but held Bacon to just seven points.
The two teams then both ignited in the second quarter.
Anderson scored 15 points, half the team’s total, as it outscored the Bobcats 30-25 to take the 43-32 lead into the break.
The rocky road continued in the third quarter where the Centaurs put up only five points, only to rally in the fourth with a 22-point effort.
Woodstock Academy now gets a holiday break.
The Centaurs don’t play again until their home opener at 2 p.m. Dec. 29 against Rockville in a non-league game.
“I think it’s good for us,” said Hart of the break. “It would feel better 2-0, but we will take the split. We’re going to give them a little rest. We only have five days off, an optional open gym and then two days of practice before Rockville. We will want to be back in the gym by then. The preseason was tough. We had to condition, get in shape, so the legs are a little beat up. Hopefully, they rest and stay healthy and once we get back to it, there are really no days off.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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